Upgrading air quality in the “Black Triangle” border region, Germany, Poland and Czech Republic

In the region of the borders between Poland, Czech Republic and Germany, referred to as the “Black Triangle”, on behalf of the European Commission, Fichtner prepared a framework plan for upgrading air quality. For this purpose, figures for pollutant emissions from energy conversion facilities were determined and projections of energy demand prepared. Fichtner drew up and assessed prompt measures for cuts in pollutant emissions and provided support during their implementation. In connection with ecological remediation, Fichtner as a member of the joint venture set up the EU Coordination Office in Usti, Czech Republic.

Bucharest air quality measurement and monitoring network, Romania

The Romanian government and City Council of Bucharest require data for assessing atmospheric pollution and for drawing up plans of action for environmental protection. With the support of the EU’s ProAir Program, a monitoring network comprising seven containers for measuring pollutant concentrations with central data evaluation facilities was procured for the Office for Environmental Protection. Monitoring stations were set up in and around Bucharest for the differing tasks of measuring pollution attributable to industry and to traffic as well as background pollution levels. The public can view current and evaluated data on, for example, particulates, NO, NO_x, SO₂, CO, ozone, lead and benzol as well as meteorological data at public display points and in the internet. In a consortium led by the Austrian Research Centre (ARC), Seibersdorf, Fichtner was responsible primarily for quality assurance in the design, supply and installation of the measurement containers and the monitoring network.

Upgrading Lisbon Refuse Incineration Plant to EU standards, Portugal

Valorsul S. A., Lisbon, operates a refuse incineration plant comprising three trains, each 28 t/h capacity, or 665,000 t/a. As part of EU-wide harmonization of environmental protection, EU Directive 2000/76 on refuse incineration plants has to be implemented by 1 June 2005 in Portugal. To ensure that these regulations are complied with, Fichtner was awarded a contract for checking the present facilities, putting forward proposals for complying with the new stipulations and limit standards, and drawing up the tender documents for the agreed measures. The most important of these are optimization of flue gas cleanup equipment to meet the limit standards for HCl, particulates and NO_x, and locking out waste charging should the furnace temperature drop below 850°C and/or the permissible emission values be exceeded.

Measures for upgrading efficiencies and improving the environmental situation, Egypt

Under contract to the Egyptian electricity supply utility, EEHC, for four power plants in Egypt Fichtner selected suitable measures from a number of proposals for upgrading efficiency and improving the environmental situation. Implementation of these, including steam turbine overhaul, installation of new burners, and rehabilitation of water preparation and wastewater treatment systems, was planned and the execution supervised. Additionally, Fichtner assessed the impact through renewal and optimization of the power plant I&C systems.

Environmental impact study for expansion of Vijayawada Power Station, India

For expansion of Vijayawada Coal-Fired Power Station by a 660 MW unit, under a contract to the German Reconstruction Loan Corporation (KfW), Fichtner first reviewed the studies available to the client on environmental impacts and summarized their contents to determine the long-term effects of gas cleanup equipment and firing of scrubbed coal on soil acidification. During the second phase, on the basis of a propagation model for pollutant emissions, Fichtner prepared a comprehensive environmental impact assessment, with measurements of meteorological conditions as well as emissions and ground-level concentrations of pollutants in connection with the expansion.

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Abatement of industrial air pollution, Thailand

Under contract to the German Association for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Fichtner advised the Department of Industrial Works of the Thai Ministry of Industry and other institutions on ways and means for cutting air pollution from industrial facilities. This involved principally extension of regulations, standards and tools of the market economy, as well as working out solutions to problems in the field in consultation with the industries causing pollution and the affected populace. Additionally, environmental management systems and technologies for air pollution control were to be promoted in selected industries, and services offered by Thai consultants upgraded.

Backfitting an MSW incineration plant with flue gas cleanup equipment, Singapore

Following tightening up of environmental protection legislation in Singapore, the Ulu Pandan municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration plant had to be backfitted with flue gas cleanup equipment. Under contract to the Singapore Ministry of the Environment, Fichtner undertook the engineering work, ranging from conceptual design to site supervision. Thanks to this modernization, further operation of this 1600 t/d plant could be ensured.

Emission abatement measures for Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Coal-fired space heating boilers contribute greatly to air pollution in Beijing. With the aim of cutting pollutant emissions within the city, the program “Best Practice of Gas Boiler Systems Configuration and Heat Distribution” was launched. During the two-year course of this World Bank-financed project, Fichtner assisted their client, Beijing Heating Energy Conservation Center (HECC), in designing and planning economic central district heating plants of high technical efficiency as well as in fuel switching from coal to natural gas. In doing so, Fichtner undertook development of “best design practices”, supported local design institutes in technical matters for planning around fifty schemes for fuel switching, realized eight selected demonstration projects, set up a training facility, and gave instruction to specialists.

Backfitting flue gas desulfurization equipment, People’s Republic of China

To cut sulfur dioxide emissions and reduce the impact of acid rain, flue gas desulfurization (FGD) equipment was backfitted to three coal-fired power plants in Beijing, Hangzhou and Chongqing under a Sino-German project. All three power plants are located within the city boundaries, and in each case flue gases from two boilers of total capacity from 217 to 440 MWe are passed through a joint FGD scrubber, employing the limestone process to produce gypsum, some of which is recovered for use. SO₂ abatement is characterized by greatly differing raw gas concentrations, ranging from 1000 to 7000 mg/Nm³. The attained SO₂ removal efficiencies are from 96% to 98%. The scrubbers are equipped with modern I&C systems and are monitored and controlled from a separate FGD control room. Operational experience made up to now with the three FGD installations has been positive. Under contract to the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Fichtner took over, in cooperation with Steag encotec GmbH, engineering and consultancy services, including feasibility study, basic design, tendering and site management, up to supervision of commissioning.

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Cleanup of flue gases from a residues incinerator at Wesseling Oil Refinery, Germany

At its Wesseling Oil Refinery, Shell Germany Oil GmbH operates an incinerator for disposing of residues from oil refining processes. In a first step, Fichtner was awarded a contract for assessing mercury removal in the existing flue gas cleanup equipment and working out improvement proposals. As a second step, candidate backfitting technologies for mercury removal were evaluated and a recommendation made. In a third step, Fichtner prepared – as a basis for making an investment decision – the basic engineering documents, with flow diagrams, equipment installation drawings, timetable and a cost estimate for backfitting the flue gas cleaning equipment with a mercury removal stage.

Flue gas cleanup equipment in Wehrden Power Plant, Völklingen, Germany

For a new SCR deNO_x reactor in Wehrden Bituminous Coal-Fired Power Plant, Fichtner prepared detailed engineering and drew up the tender documents for several lots. Other services were bid evaluation and recommendation for contract award, safety analysis, permit engineering and support up to permit approval.

Comparison of wet processes for flue gas cleaning, Germany

For construction of the new Lippendorf Lignite-Fired Power Plant, Fichtner was entrusted by Vereinigte Energiewerke Aktiengesellschaft (VEAG, now Vattenfall) with comparing various wet processes for flue gas cleaning against the Wellmann-Lord process. Apart from performance, a particular criterion was applicability in the new power plant. The design parameters were for a plant of 2 x 800 MW capacity at the limits of today’s technology.

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Rehabilitation of a waste-to-energy plant, Germany

On behalf of the City Council of Leverkusen, Fichtner managed in several phases rehabilitation of the Leverkusen Waste-to-Energy Plant, whose flue gas cleanup equipment was modernized for compliance with German air quality control legislation (17. BimSchV). The range of tasks handled by Fichtner in this connection started with a conceptual investigation into the most economical way of modifying the plant to meet this legislation, and ended with extension of the plant by two new waste incineration trains. These employed conventional stoker firing technology as well as starved air incineration with afterburning of products, and included waste pretreatment on the plant’s premises. The services also covered planning of the flue gas cleanup equipment, from outline layout to support during the permit process, tendering and contract award. During construction, Fichtner was responsible for site supervision. In a follow-up project, Fichtner provided flanking support for verifying the performance of the flue gas scrubber evaporation plant for production of common salt, by analyzing the performance measurements and comparing these with warranty and contractual data.

Planning flue gas cleanup equipment, Germany

Under contract to the Middle Franconia Joint Local Authorities Association for Hazardous Waste Disposal, Fichtner undertook comprehensive planning for construction of new flue gas cleanup equipment for Schwabach Hazardous Waste Incineration Plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 t of wastes. Fichtner’s services covered all planning phases, from determination of basic data and constraints to assisting in contract award, including permit engineering.

Investigation of options for upgrading the flue gas cleanup equipment of a hazardous waste incinerator, Germany

On behalf of the hazardous waste disposal company, Sonderabfall-Entsorgung Bayern GmbH, Fichtner investigated potentials for optimization of the flue gas cleanup equipment of a hazardous-waste incinerator. This comprises an electrostatic precipitator, a multi-stage scrubber and a fabric filter. Fichtner investigated and assessed the existing flue gas cleanup equipment to identify potentials for its improvement, with conversion and backfitting possibilities.

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Rehabilitation of a waste resources recovery facility, Germany

For rehabilitation of the waste resources recovery facility, including the flue gas cleanup equipment of Schwedt Oil Refinery, Fichtner was retained by the petrochemicals and fuels company, Petrochemie und Kraftstoffe PCK GmbH, Schwedt, to handle all procurement services and supervise detail engineering. Rehabilitation planning is directed to fulfilling the requirements of German air quality control legislation (17. BimSchV) and includes updating the environmental impact assessment and a safety analysis. Fichtner was also entrusted with managing, coordinating and supervising the construction and installation phases, up to completion of trial operation.

Planning of new solvent incinerator in a leather processing plant, Germany

For cutting solvent-containing emissions in a leather varnishing plant, Fichtner was entrusted with detailed engineering and assisted during procurement and commissioning.

Air quality control plan for City of Stuttgart, Germany

In connection with the air quality control plan for City of Stuttgart, Fichtner, as member of a planning joint venture, drew up an expert report on cutting traffic emissions. For this purpose, traffic volumes in and around Stuttgart were determined and measures for their reduction worked out.

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